"Alaska Ecosystems Program"

This report describes briefly the activities under Project 80 in 1948. Generally speaking, the biologists 1. photographed the seal beaches from the air, 2. counted dead seal pups, 3. studies the human error in measuring seals on the killing field, 4. tagged 19, 532 seal pups, 5. studied the growth rate of seals of known age, 6. collected liver samples for the vitamin A analysis, 7. counted seals at the sea during the fall migration, 8. made a critical study of the present method of computing the seal population, and 9. engaged in research of lesser importance.

Victor B. Scherrer, Project Leader William II. Sholes, Jr., Aqua. to Biologist, entered on duty 9 May and resigned 2 December; Karl W. Kenyon, a Biologist, entered on duty 12 June Robert Z. Drown, Collaborator, in the field from 14 May to 12 August. John W. Slipp, Collaborator, in the field from 17 to 19 April.

The aim of the Canadian visitors was to study the methods employed by the Fish and Wildlife Service in managing the fur seal herd, especially in apportioning to Canada her share of the take. The biologist found it a pleasure to work with these men. He endeavored to give them a background of facts and theories pertaining to fur seal biology and management. At the close of the summer 32 photographs (in duplicate) of sealing operations were supplied out of the biological files to each of the Canadian visitors, supplementing photographic records which they themselves obtained. The Canadians were of daily assistance in the regular program of fur seal research, and not only contributed manual labor but also offered suggestions and ideas which will be useful in planning future research.

The following report is subdivided according to the filing system adopted in 1941 and described in a letter to Dr. W. B. Bell, April 24, 1944. In some categories of the system there 1s nothing new to report at the present time. Field operations were carried out on St. Paul Island by the writer from May 16 to August 9, 1944. It is recommended that a later period, say from June 15 to October I, be covered by the biologist in 1945.